Terminal



Jan. 3l, 1939. M. F.1wHlTNKEY 2,145,744

v TERMINAL Filed Dec. 1s, 1935 Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES TERMINAL Myron F. Whitney, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 13, 1935, ksel-,iai No. 54,175

Claims.

This invention relates to terminals and more particularly to terminals to be mounted and insulated on the frameof a generator.

The terminals heretofore employed, particular- 5 ly in connection with generators are ordinarily of the type employing a threaded stud having a shoulder against which is placed a plain washer 'and covered with a body of non-eonducting ma-l terial. The body is molded about the washer and l0 the stud so that a portion of the body will t into a suitable aperture provided by the frame of the generator and insulate the stud and washer from the frame when the terminal is secured on the frame. Such a terminal is objectionable because when the terminal thus construeted'is assembled with the frame and the clamping means drawn down tight, the washer will bend and cause a fracture of the non-conducting material surrounding it, thus causing short or open cir cuits.

An object of the present invention is to provide a design and an arrangement of a threaded member and a body of non-conducting material, which are combined into a unitary structure,

whereby the body of non-conducting material will withstand all pressures exerted by clamping means to secure the unitary structure to a support without in any way injuring or fracturing the body, thus preventing short or open circuits. v

Another object of the present invention is to produce a terminal of simple, compact and inexpensive construction.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a support showing a terminal member embodying the present invention assembled thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of one of the elements of the terminal member.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the Whole terminal member.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Figs. 1 and 4 respectively.

I Referring to the drawing, 20 designates a stud provided with a threaded end 2|, a conical or tapered head 22 and a boss 23 extending from the face'of the head 22. The boss is provided with a slot 24 to receive a bared end of a conductor wire 25 which is soldered to the boss 23 to provide a good electrical connection between the wire and the boss. A body of suitable nonconducting material, preferably molded about the stud, is iixed to the stud to form a unitary terminal assembly 26. The molded body of non- 5 conducting material includes an enlarged portion or flange 21 and a reduced portion 28. This reduced portion is provided with flats 29. It will be noted that the flange 21 substantially encloses the conical head 22, while the reduced portion 28 10 extends a part way up the threaded end 2| of the stud. l

The terminal assembly 26 is adapted to be mounted to a suitable support 30, for example, the frame of a generator. This support is prol vided with an opening 3| therethrough, the opening being providedwith flats 32. In assembling the terminal 26, the terminal is placed upon the support with the flats 29 of the reduced'portion ,28 registering with corresponding flats 32 of the 2* opening. In other words the contour of the rei duced portion 28 is substantially the same as the contour of the walls of the opening 3|. Thus when the terminal 26 is assembled to the support the terminal is prevented from rotating relative 25 to the support. It is to be understood that the contour of the reduced portion 28 and the opening 3| of any other shape may be employed which will provide the non-rotative relation between the terminal 26 and the support 30.

When the terminal 26 is assembled upon the support, the threaded end of the stud 2| will protrude through the opening 3|. An insulating washer 33 and metallic washers 3l are placed over the threaded end 2|. or nut 35 is threaded on the end 2i to hold the terminal assembly 26 to the support -andcause the inner surface 38 of the flange 21 to bear against the under side of the support l3|). Since the insulating washer 33 is adjacent the support or 40 frame 30, the stud 2| is amply insulated from the frame.

It will be noted, see Figs. 1 and 2, that the conical head 22 is of greater dimension than the opening 3|. Therefore when the nut v35 is 45 threaded on the end 2| to clamp the terminal assembly 26 to the support, the conical head will distribute the forces properly so that the insulatthreaded end 2| will be severed or twisted in two u A clamping member 36 without in any way injuring or fracturing the non-conducting material molded about the conical head 22. In this case, a new terminal would have to be supplied.

In Fig. 2 the terminal 2E is shown as connected by the wire 25, to the eld windings of a generator within the frame 30, not shown. The outer end of the terminal 26 serves for attachment of a wire, not shown, by which the elci winding is connected with other apparatus.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood vthat other iorms might be adopted, all coming within the scope or the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A terminal assembly for a support-having an opening, comprising in combination; a threaded shank having a head; a body of insulation about the head and shank; and adapted to support the shank; in the opening, said head coinprising a at portion surrounded by an outwardly flaring conic portion; and insulated means erigaging the threaded shank for drawing the body of insulation against the support, said fiat head portion operating to draw the insulation about the shank into the aperture of the support and the flaring portion of the head adapted to clamp the insulation above it against the support.

2. A terminal assembly for a support having an opening, comprising in combination; a threaded shank having a head; a body-oi' insulation about the head and shank and adapted to support the shank in the opening, said head comprising a flat portion surrounded by an outwardly aring conic portion and insulated means engaging the threaded shank for drawing the body of insulation against the support, said at portion operating to push the insulation resting thereon into the aperture of the support and the flaring portion of the head adapted to angularly clamp the edge of the body against the support.

3. A terminal assembly rior a support having a non-circular opening comprising, a threaded stud having a head provided with a at portion surrounded by an outwardly extending conical prevent rotation of the bushing relative to the support and to entirely insulate the stud from the support; and insulated means for clamping the bushing against the support, said at portion tending to push the pilot portion of the bushing into `the opening and the conical portion operating at an angle to the axis of the stud to yclamp the anged portion oi the bushing against the support whereby the stud will be severed when the assembly is drawn too tight against the support.

d. A terminal assembly for a support having an opening comprising in combination; a threaded shank having a head including a dat portion and a conic portion surrounding the flat portion; a body of insulating materiah said body having a portion about the shank adapted to it into the opening andihaving a portion about the head adapted to engage the surface of the support aboutthe opening; and insulated means for securing the assembly to the support whereby the nat-portion of the head will push the insulation parallel to theV axis of the shank into' the opening, and whereby the conic portion acts at anangle to the axis of the shank to clamp the edge of the body against the support.

5. A terminal assembly. for a support having an opening, comprising in combination; a threaded stud including a shank and a head, said head having a peripheral conic portion and a at portion joining the conic portion with the shank; a body of insulating material molded about the stud to enclose the conic portion and at least a portion ofthe shank, and insulated means for securing the assembly to the support whereby the fiat portion of the head will force that portion of the insulating-material about the shank into the opening, and whereby the conic portion will distribute other portions at an angle to the axis of the shank to clamp edgeof the body against the support,

MYRON F'. WHITNEY. 

